Thoughts from Alison that might at least entertain you!

Prune Ridge Bits and Pieces

Greetings, All!  It's Monday, but John and I are on vacation.  (Clarification - John is on vacation for the whole week, I'm not technically on vacation but have a few extra days off to make up for a heck of a lot of work last week and next.)

So far in this edition of "Reeds Doing Very Little," we've had a visit to the Farmer's market Saturday (many veggies and a few snacks were purchased), two good home-cooked dinners (asparagus omelet and roasted potatoes; turkey/veggie sauce with spicy pasta and bruschetta), several episodes of cat shenanigans, lots of sleeping, several loads of laundry, some house cleaning, some baseball watching, and this morning - repairs to the quilt on our bed!  I'm rather proud of the quilt repairs since it has seemed like we're nearing the end of the quilt's life, and now I think we're good for a while.  Tonight we will make a little drive south to have dinner with my brother.

Tori has been hard at work practicing some of her most developed skills while we are home bothering her.  She is proud of her focus and ability to block out distractions while she works - on, umm, sitting.  Here we have a few pictures as proof of her accomplishments.  To her credit, instead of just sitting in the picture above, she was actually stretching and practicing kitty yoga.  Yes, she is sitting in the closet where mom's laundry basket usually sits.  Apparently she likes that spot?  After the yoga she needed to rest a bit, so she chose John's shorts.  We try not to leave too much stuff lying around the house - and this is why.

This morning, Tori has been catching up on her reading.  Almost nobody will be surprised to hear that there is never a shortage of reading materials in our house, even for cats.  Here she is, our Literate Princess (this picture a.k.a. "Tori Reed Reads").

Yeah, Toast

Just because it's funny...  watch this and prepare to laugh!

Wedding Processional Like No Other

Alright, probably nearly everyone has seen this by now, but in case you haven't... here you go!  The interwebs are such an amazing "place," and this is one of those seemingly random bits that should be seen by all! 

This is perhaps the most unique wedding processional I've ever seen.  I love these people.  I have no idea who they are, but I'm pretty sure they have at least as much "screwballness" in them as I do.  And they're even from Minnesota (the land of my heritage) - what could be better?!?  All the best to you in your marriage adventure, Kheinzes - you're certainly starting with a good amount of those crucial elements of humor and fun!

 

The Girls Are Strange

It's late at Prune Ridge, and I'm sleepless.

The Girls (Maggie B and Tori) are currently grooming each other - appearing to be sweet and loving.  This will change, as it always does.  On that note, I'm going to bed.  I'll try to convince myself that the love lasts and The Girls are friends!

Happy Night to you in your own happy homes, All.

Catching Up A Bit

Hi Friends!  It seems I've been missing from the blogosphere for most of the week at this point.

The week has been a busy one so far.  Sunday was a full (longer than full actually, nearly 10 hours) work day with a party for our fabulous Volunteers at work.  My super cute and helpful husband worked alongside me all day, and tolerated the party to boot!  I started the "real" workweek tired already on Monday morning, and followed with a full day of Volunteers, deliveries, and stocking at the club on Tuesday.  The rest of the work week is budgeting - woohoo!  We are in the beginning of our planning for the next budget cycle at work, with a first draft due shortly.  Tomorrow night (Friday) I'll be working a big busy show.

And then...  collapse and have several days off!  Phew.

Next up in blogging?  A more regular presence, I promise.  I have some pictures to share from my vacation time away last week, and of course a random collection of yammering thoughts that bubble up every now and then.

Happy summer to all.  Be Well in the World, and Enjoy the very best parts of your days!

My Insurance Has A First Name...

Oops.  Read the whole story here, but here's the short version:  The Oscar Meyer Weinermobile crashed into a home in Mount Pleasant, Wisconsin!  Yeah, I laughed a little bit...  Sorry, Wisconsin Homeowner, but there's something pretty funny in there!  (No one was injured.)

I'm reminded of a commercial jingle friends and I "wrote" as part of a church service (in the style of a TV talk show, with commercials) when I was a hilarious angst-filled teenager.  You know the tune, sing along:

My religion has a first name, it's U-N-I-T-A-R-I-A-N; My religion has a second name, it's much too long to spell.  Oh, I love to live it every day, and if you ask me why I'll say...  'Cause Unitarian Universalists have a way with         B-O-L-O-G-N-A!

Balloon Flowers at Prune Ridge

Photo by John:

 

Grandpa Elliot

Here's a new tidbit from the folks at Playing For Change.  Grandpa Elliot (from New Orleans, who is featured in a number of their videos, some of which I've shared here before) sings God Bless America at Dodgers Stadium in L.A.  Indeed.  (This link may only be active for a day or so, I believe it's a short-term offering on their website.)

She's Back

Greetings, All!

I'm back home at Prune Ridge after a few days away at Summer Institute.  Much fun was had with my UU friends, and leaving wasn't easy in the middle of the week - but I'm glad to be home with John!  Who knew we would miss each other as much as we did?!?

I had a wonderful few days and will share some thoughts and/or things I think I'll be working on for myself based on my days at SI.  I'm under rested and a little loopy right now, so coherent thoughts will come at a later date.  In the meantime, here's the hymn text that is circling almost constantly in my brain.  I really love this tune:

There is more love somewhere.  There is more love somewhere.  I'm gonna keep on, till I find it.  There is more love somewhere.

Be Well and Keep Going, Friends.

And Away I Go!

So I'm off tomorrow for a few days!  It's vacation week at Prune Ridge.  John will be home, and I'm headed off for Unitarian fun until the middle of the week.  I still aim to talk John into a single morning or so at the Ann Arbor Art Fairs after I am back for the latter half of the week ahead.

To celebrate our real vacation beginning today we slept in ridiculously late, went out for lunch and then a movie, and had pizza for dinner at home before a Scrabble game.  I had one of my better Scrabble scores tonight (over 300 points), and still managed to lose by more than 100 points.  Woohoo...  Maybe a few days in Gambier, OH will make me smarter?  Here's hoping!

Happy summer, Friends.  Be Well and Be You Completely.  I may blog briefly from my fancy phone while I'm away, or else I'll update when I return.

Rock On!

Almost There

Vacation...  so close I can taste it!  Well, maybe not exactly, but almost.

After work tomorrow evening I'm off through the following Saturday.  (Assuming I can do enough extra work during the day tomorrow that I don't need to do anything else!)  I need this vacation sort of desperately and can't wait.

On Sunday I'm headed to central Ohio for a few days of respite and reconnection with many friends of many years.  John is also on vacation for the week, so I'll be home mid-week to continue relaxation with him.  The week also brings the Ann Arbor Art Fairs to our city.  I'm looking forward to heading into fair central for part of a day at the end of the week.  That's about all I can take of the fairs, but I'm looking forward to it!  Otherwise?  I plan on sitting in the lovely chairs in our little back yard at Prune Ridge.  I will probably play with the cats, maybe tackle some simple home tasks...  and maybe get crazy and do some new collage work?

Happy July to you, Friends.  Be Well and Do Good.

A Remarkable Man

Today brought the passing of a truly remarkable person.  Dr. Robert Brundage left this world today after about two weeks in the hospital in Toledo.  I knew him as Bob Brundage - a man of brilliant mind, gentle soul, and powerfully quiet presence.  He was a scientist (engineer, physicist, biophysicist), recording engineer, accomplished musician & lover of music, and community activist, as well as an advocate for social justice, education, and the arts.  He was a fixture in Toledo and especially in my (and his) old neighborhood, The Old West End.

He was attacked and robbed by a 15 year old boy in his own neighborhood on June 22, and has been hospitalized with a critical head injury ever since.

My heart mourns this amazing person who has left the world as we know it.  My heart breaks for his family, the myriad lives touched by Bob Brundage, and the city of Toledo.  My heart also breaks for the 15 year old and the people who love him.

Blessed Be, Dr. Brundage.

Summer Institute!

And so a week from today brings the start of an annual event - and one of my favorites, at that!  Next Sunday, UUs (Unitarian Universalists) from Ohio, parts of Pennsylvania and West Virginia, and beyond (like Michigan, for instance) will gather for a week of community in central Ohio.

I can hardly wait for this week to arrive - even though I'm just going for a few days this year!  Can't wait to connect with friends, share conversation and laughter, make some music together, and sink into more than a few adirondack chairs around Kenyon College for a bit.  This is a week of replenishment that does a body and soul good.  At some point I'll need to think along the lines of packing for the adventure, but for now - just looking forward!

See you in Gambier, Friends!

Slowing and Sitting

Happy holiday weekend, All!  Hope you celebrated various freedoms.  At our house, we went with the freedom to do very little, the freedom to sleep in, the freedom to hang with family, and the freedom to overeat.  Shortly we will celebrate the freedom to watch baseball!

Above are our new adirondack chairs in the little backyard at Prune Ridge.  They might just be my new favorite place to sit and do very little.  Tori is not too sure about this arrangement - to her, it's a great injustice that I can go just outside and sit where she can't.

John snapped a few good pics of blooms in front of Prune Ridge last night.  This big ol' bumble bee loves several of the blooms out there, but especially these purple "May Night" Salvia.  We also have lovely hosta blooms (above) in a few colors, and the balloon flowers are ready to pop with about 12 flowers on each plant.

Any ideas out there about the last one below?  This is a dead piece of some stem or something - poked through a hole in one hosta leaf.  The hosta is thriving and the leaf seams perfectly happy with the arrangement.  The stem piece doesn't seem to match anything else growning in the area.  I dunno... it's a mystery.

Be Well Friends, and Keep Growing!

Totally Worth It

Diabetic Maintenance Cat Food:  $70.00

Feline Senior Profile Bloodwork:  $230.00

Cat Litter:  $40.00

Fabulous Bird-Like Cat Toy:  $20.00

Replacement Parts For Fabulous Toy:  $8.00

Torturing The Cats In Various Ways:  Priceless